Kraid
Encyclopedia : K : KR : KRA : Kraid
Kraid is a fictitious green reptilian-like monster from the Metroid series, closely resembling the Japanese monsters called Kaiju. Gigantic, with a fat and bloated appearance, Kraid is one of the largest enemies Samus ever encounters. Kraid first made its appearance in the original NES/Famicom Disk System Metroid game as a part of the game's miniboss duo, the other being Ridley. Kraid shoots projectiles such as dagger-like spiked sticks from its belly and navel as well as spinning boomerang-like nails from its fingertips as its main weapons.
Metroid
In Metroid, Kraid is the boss of Brinstar. Due to lack of colors and the sprite's limited sizes, the artist's interpretation of Kraid for the game's artwork differed considerably from what the game designers had in mind. Kraid's artwork clearly shows that in addition to its smaller size in this game (than all later appearances), to have a mullet of green hair that runs down its back and has only two eyes. However, this is not the case as the “mullet” is actually the darker shade of scales while his third eye can be seen in the middle of its forehead as what appears to be a 'horn'.
There is also a fake Kraid Samus may encounter before fighting the real Kraid. However, since Kraid's Hideout has multiple paths the player can take to reach the real Kraid, the player may never actually come in contact with fake Kraid in a play through. Fake Kraid is similar in appearance but is a darker shade of green and is rather feeble in comparison with the real one. Unlike the real Kraid, it regenerates if it is destroyed and the player re-enters the room.
Metroid: Zero Mission
In , Kraid is reminiscent of its appearance in Super Metroid, suggesting that Kraid was meant to be gigantic in the original and did not "grow" between its appearances in Metroid and Super Metroid. Worthy of note is that there is no fake Kraid in this game. Oddly enough, while the identical room in which it appeared in the original game is present, fake Kraid is no where to be seen.
Super Metroid
Kraid reappears in Super Metroid in a much larger form, taking up the space of approximately two vertical screens. In this appearance, its body is invulnerable except for his mouth, which opens after Kraid is shot in the eyes. Four Super Missiles, or a 20 missiles and charge shots, are necessary to defeat Kraid. There is, as in the original, a fake Kraid in this game though dwarf-like in comparison, both in terms of size and strength. Just like the Metroid decoy, it regenerates if it is destroyed and the player re-enters the room.
Other games
- Super Smash Brothers Melee: A trophy of Kraid is obtained when the "Brinstar Depths" stage is unlocked. Kraid also appears as part of the stage Brinstar Depths. Occasionally, he will emerge from the lava, roar and rotate the arena, changing gameplay.
Trivia
- Kraid was originally intended to make an appearance in Metroid Prime as a boss ([link]), and was modeled and skinned by Gene Kohler for that purpose. However, time constraints prevented it from being included in the final version of the game. Though the beta model displays him inside Phazon Mines, according to Kohler, he was in fact replaced by the Omega Pirate. Kraid is referenced, however, in Metroid Prime. One of the tanks in the Space Pirate's base suggests that one of the Pirate's experiments is to recreate the creature. Body parts in the vat appear to be Kraid's. Of note in the Prime Kraid's appearance is his head. It appears to be covered by a metal dome in the picture.
- Kraid's graphical appearance in Metroid: Zero Mission was altered considerably before the games final release. A beta screenshot of the game (as shown on the right) shows that Kraid was originally going to have a less threatening, more 'cartoony' appearance than the rendition that eventually made it into the final product.
| 2D games | Metroid | ' | Super | Fusion | ' | Dread |
| Prime subseries | Prime | Prime Pinball | ' | ' | |
| Characters | Samus Aran | Chozo | Dark Samus | Ing | Kraid | Luminoth | Metroid species | Metroid Prime | Mother Brain | Ridley | X Parasite | Space Pirates |
| Creatures | Metroid - Super Metroid | Prime - Zero Mission | Prime 2 - Prime 3 |
| Other | Gunship | Items | Areas | Phazon | Shinespark | Metroid Metal | Relics of the Chozo | Gunpei Yokoi | Satoru Okada | Metroidvania |
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.